Improvement in velocipedes



G. STAFFORD Velooipede.

Patented July 9,1878.

PEYERS, PHOTO-LITHOGRAPHER, WASHINGTON. D C.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE STAFFORD, OF \VASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

IMPROVEMENT lN VELOCIPEDES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 205,921, dated July 9,187R; a li tio fil d June 10, 1878.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE STAFFORD, of Washington, in the District ofColumbia, have invented a new and Improved Velocipede- Horse, of whichthe following is a specification:

Oarriage-velocipedes have heretofore been made with a guiding-wheel infront, turned by means of cords simulating reins, and connected with thehead of the vertical shaft, which deflects the said front wheel forguiding the carriage, and this vertical shaft has been connected withthe representation of a horses neck and head, so that the guiding of thecarriage could be effected by reins attached to the horses head.

My improvement consists in constructing a velocipede in the form of ahorse, on which the user may ride, and connecting the drivingwheel(which is operated by cranks after the manner of an ordinary velocipede)with the pivoted neck of the horse, and having the head projecthorizontally forward, so that the guiding of the veloeipede may be morereadily and effectivel y accomplished by the deflection of the wheel, onwhich the weight of the rider is chiefly supported.

My invention further consists in the combination of a spring with thevertical shaft of a combined driving and guiding wheel, so that the saidspring may counteract the deflecting action of the cranks under thealternate pressure of the feet, and may thus steady the wheel againstwabbling motion.

My invention further consists in arranging the fore legs of the horse toproject horizontally forward on both sides of the guidingwheel, so as toform an effective guard therefor.

In order that my invention may be fully understood, I will proceed todescribe it, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which-Figure 1 is a side elevation of the velocipede partly in section. Fig. 2is a horizontal section on the line 2 2, Fig. 1,

The body A of the velocipedc is formed to resemble the body of a horsewith stationary shoulders B, which form a bearin g for the neck 0 toturn upon,the said neck being connected by a vertical shaft, D, with thebreast E, to which the fore legs F are attached, and in which thepedestals G of the front guiding-wheel II are mounted.

The horizontal shaft of the said guidingwheel is provided with cranks Ifor propelling the velocipede with the feet in customary manner. Thehind legs J are attached to the stationary shaft K, on which the rearwheels L turn freely.

The turning of the velocipede is effected by means of a bridle, M,attached at each side to the animals mouth, so that the horizontalprojection of the head N affords leverage in turning, which leverageincreases as the head is brought round.

0 represents a spring, concealed within the body of the animal, andconnected to the back part of the breast E, so as to restore it and theattached guiding-wheel to a central position when released, and also tocounteract the horizontal pressure of the riders feet on the cranks I I,thus steadying the guiding-wheel and preventing wabbling.

Having thus described my invention, the following is what I claim as newand desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. The combination of the driving-wheel II, cranks I I, breast-piece E,pivoted neck and head 0 N, connecting-shaft I), and spring 0, as and forthe purpose specified.

2. The combination, with the driving-wheel H, of the front legs F F,projecting forward on each side of said wheel, so as to form laterallyand in front thereof, as shown, guards therefor.

GEORU E STAFFORD.

Witnesses:

OoTAvirs KNIGHT, WALTER ALLEN.

